Phil-540i

Fixed it for ya.^^^^^^..........

Merry Christmas guys, to you & your family, whether you're admin / mods / a site sponser / a veteran member, or the one that maybe joined today (probably even Westy is included in there somewhere!!! ) May it be enjoyable, non-stressing, entertaining, & everything else you want it to be, with family & friends. Much like in here its a great crew, Xmas is about the people, not what ya get, so cruise, chill & spend the quality time with those in our lives that 'humour' us, & our hobbies / interests.... Some of you will be travelling / some may have already done so - keep it safe, watch out for the other guy coming towards ya, be patient, & drive to survive.....you're a long time dead!! From me, its my first year here - "Thanks heaps for making me feel welcome at a great site / forum - you're all awesome" May the times ahead in 2014 be everything you want it to be - theres big changes ahead for some people, new places to live / work, new challenges, but high odds this'll still be the same mad-house here hopefully........ Take it easy out there ae......... Phil. PS - Yes, ok, sometimes its about 'what ya get'............. PSS - Special thanks to the 'winner' that gave me the RST bit the other day!!! Cracked me up........you're a legend!!

Yea mate, well done!!! Good on ya - hope it goes well & gives ya some challenges, without it being too many. Primo way to start 2014.............

Yes, & that's true mostly - much like this Maserati, it often seems the more expensive something is, the less (or further away) from its intended 'purpose / design it tends to get used for. Its much like Graham said on page one of this thread re A Massie he seen overseas - when we see them being used 'properly' out in the real world, it makes us do a 'double-take' on it........ I know I'm now going off-topic, but one of the best pics of a late model BMW M5 I've seen, was on this site, & a kool write-up from the owner. Gets used as an everyday car, carts the kids & dog, & even has roof-racks & a towbar. Was brilliant, & has stuck in my mind for all the right reasons........ Edit - speeling

Bummer - why do so many iSmart phones have real short lifespans, when they cost so much..........

Pm'd ya Martin............

Good luck with that - just remember to tick the 'yes' to getting it gift-wrapped at the shop tho..............

I think that's maybe my problem with it too Juggy - maybe its just the colour, or camera angle, but it looks like its been styled by some muppet straight outa uni maybe, & the older guys that work at Maserati then haven't had the chance to go "Look son, this is wrong - this is what ya need to do........."...........

Lols - lets steer it back on track then.............the Maserati in opening post. Whilst kicking back & forth some of the off-topic stuff in here, I have actually been thinking bout 'that car' too....... Generally, I like Italian vehicles / motorbikes, in a big way. For me, some of the stuff that's been made by Italians over the years, is so gorgeous & refined, its just about like its 'motorised art', & its like its sexy, & has a real 'Wow' factor to it............ And, its a bit different from mainstream stuff........... So I dunno - by the way I traditionally see Italian stuff, this Masarati doesn't actually 'make the grade' for me, in my eyes, for some reason I can't put my finger on..... Its a bit like if you debadged the thing, & parked it in a mall & asked punters to guess where it was made, & by whom - how many people would 'get it right'?? Whereas with a Ferrari, or a Lambo, you wouldn't have the same problem - they just are 'what they are, & have always been', since early days........ Hope some of that makes sense.............whats your view............??

Aww, I dunno - jury still out on that - depends on the circumstances............. But yes - even on the big tyres, it lights up a bit toooooo easy sometimes when off-road - ticking over at around 1200rpm in 3rd low takes ya most places, unless its a bit dodgey, then more right foot tends to be the answer........ Just gotta be aware of the weight of the thing, even on sharp tyres......

Funny thing with the V8 turbo diesel 70 series, is like, well, how much power do ya want it to be putting out, really?? Ya can chip them etc, mines got a 3 inch exhaust which woke it up a bit too, but reality is, chassis dynamics date back to 1985. On wet roads on the std 750R16 biscuit cutters, they're lethal enough in the wrong hands I reckon at std power........ I grew up with underpowered Hilux 4WD diesels, so think any of the new generation stuff is fairly good compared to how slow the older stuff was, especially with load & / or trailer, up till 2005ish........

True, but you're comparing Speights with Lion Red sorta thing - at least the 200 has low range, & off-road ability, unlike a Q7 which is good for gravel, ski bunnies, & as a mall tractor. And yes - the Toyo TD is a bit lazy for its size, but better that than being highly strung with big outputs, but short life-span.........ask a Amarok owner how their vehicles stack up out in the real world after a few kms......... I know we're slightly off-topic from that POS thing in pic, but much as I like Toyota utes, pick of the bunch at the mo IMO in NZ market is a auto Ranger. Bar a brake fault they have & a few reliability issues, straight outa the box they're not too bad really.

There's a good ba$tard down in deepest south that I've known for a long long time, that's managed to make it to another birthday!!! May it be a good one mate, doing something ya enjoy........ Go find the bike thread in here sometime, chuck up some pics..... As always - just remember that everyday I bounce outa bed looking for that first coffee hit, I'm thinking to myself "Yea, but at least I'm not as old as Brent..............."

Well that looks complicated................ I'd be putting in back in the garage where it won't bother ya anymore, & be having coupla more beers..........

Ahhh, female logic - gotta love it, lols!! Funny............. So hows that mountain bike then...................... Or has it fell into 'was a great idea @ the time' category, as lots of things do.........

Ahhh, this is the 'I'll buy my own Xmas pressie' theory.................this too on its own can be a minefield that should be avoided after you've had the anti-joy of trying it once...........without adding any 'stumbling blocks' that may leave you as the male, figuirativelly 'holding the baby'............(for Paul, as theres few replies since I slow typed it......haha!!) This thread, is brought to us by the letter 'W'. As in 'W', for 'W'oodstock....................... cos tis the season (hic)

Yes, very basic, but that's one of the things I like about it compared to everything else - its only got one computer on it...........nice & simple, just like me!! For 'usel;ess info file - over 80% of 4WD vehicle recoveries outa the Simpson Desert in Aussie nowdays, are due to 'electrical component failure'......... Sometimes, 'smart vehicles' can unsmart themselves in the wrong place...................

Hmmm - a replacement window, is tooooo easy - anyone can do that - ya need to be thinking outside the square a bit my people reckon. What I'd suggest, is buy her some Gladwrap, (don't be buying that cheap $hitty knock-off stuff - gotta be the real deal ridgey didgey 'Gladwrap'. Giftwrap it, add her favourite colour ribbon. . Tell her she can use it as a new window (this avoids more windows being broken in the future......). Then lean in close, & whisper in her ear "If theres any left over, can ya wrap my lunchs with it please........."

And if south of The Kilmog - a box of Speights too ae...........

I like what you're saying there Graham, all soundz koool & semi-sensible, even to me - only thing I can add is 'don't be buying her those alloys for your car', as I can easily see ya might be heading down that road of pain.................. Edit ; Gift-wrapped, with ribbons, won't help either................... Double Edit - Reminds me - how is it that when you're a male buying something at this time of the year, the usually female counter dolly / card swiper always, like always says 'Would you like that gift-wrapped??'. Like what, trick question week maybe?? On what planet does this guy look like he wants to attempt wrapping it?? Seriously........... "Yea honey, I've got 3 hours of my life to spend wrapping these earrings so it can still be wrong & look like something a pre-schooler did - I really want to do that"..........

Had some sacrificial offerings this year have we?? Been spending a bit too much on take-aways maybe?? If so, whilst your subtle hint may have some merit, probably a good idea that you've left the new knife set outa that list........ We're 'not buying for each other' this year............on any other year part of what we do is try to find & include the most useless low value voucher we can for each other, as a 'tongue in cheek, take the pi$$' sorta thing............

Well, here we go again guys, 24th Dec rapidly approaching, (apparently its now over 360 days since the last one.... ) so pressure is on for bright ideas on what you're buying her........your partner - wife - mistress - other half - significant other - brains of the operation - lover - girl friend - that female in your life that probably means something to ya most days anyway........ So wheres the bright ideas on what to get............?? Being male, sometimes we try the simple approach - "Whaddya want for Xmas??" type of thing, but its often discovered 'that's too simple'............. so turns into a bit of a guessing game that you've got to get fairly right, or, your life will be affected by your screwing it up so badly.......... Things to avoid - the classic 'We won't buy each other presents this year'............this is a 'fail', anyway ya look at it - buy her nothing, & you'll be guaranteed that her non-present to you will be something you've secretly wanted forever & a day. Thus, you'll feel like a prat, & whatever you buy to 'get outa jail', will end up costing 3 x what ya woulda spent anyway. (Reminding her 'we weren't buying each other presents this year', at this time, is also an epic fail for male gender.........) The other way this goes slightly pear-shaped, is, if in 'good boy' mode, thinking ahead a bit, you buy her what she has been secretly wanting, hints like expensive $hit circled in catalogues can be used, & then she gets you nothing - her defence while opening what you've brought will probably be 'Aww, you shouldn't have, I thought we weren't buying presents this year.........', 3 hrs later when you're still sulking this'll be followed up with 'Don't you ever listen to me.......??' The ever popular 'Buy me something useful', should also be avoided. Apparently, theres a rumour that the different genders have slightly different ideas on what 'useful' actually is. A new washing machine, iron, vacuum cleaner, & any kitchen appliance, will probably be viewed as unsuitable Xmas gifts. Bathroom scales, also a no-no. Any clothing for her - also out, bigtime!! You'll buy it too big, too small, too short, too tight, too sexy & if its none of that - it'll be the wrong colour............ Buying anything for the man-cave & giving it to her for Xmas, probably ain't gonna end well for you either. (This includes that Sidchrome socket set too...........) Other 'fails' to avoid - anything from The Wharehouse. Whilst you might 'get a bargin', high odds it'll cost ya lots longterm......... Cheap, or unpopular, or unsuitable music. Mariah Carey springs to mind, as does One Direction, Justin Bieber, Boyszone & basically anything that you yourself are going to have to listen to with her. Unless you live in Gorrrre, (or have married your cousin), anything by Patsy Rigger or with guitars / banjos, is also to be a non-happening thing............ I'm sure that after nother coupla Woodies I'll be able to think of some more gooood info, but feel free to add your own in the meantime too........... Above all else though, try to get it right guys, & may you & her both have smiles on your dial over the Xmas period.

Lols - yea, you're right, bit of overkill, as we all know whats behind ya ain't important unless its got flashing lights........ Thats a 200 series Cruiser - for a virtually 3000kg 'brick', they get up & really boogie once ya get them rolling ............& aren't too bad off-road once ya turn off all the electronic $hit that ya can........... Mind you, at knocking on 150k, they should be a bloody good unit too!!! Edit - new Hilux ain't flash off-road in std form Andy - I spent 12k in parts to make my last one a better unit off-road........

Ya could always take it to some-one like Glenn for a proper diagnosis before it does a big melt-down stuck in a traffic-jam somewhere...................

I love bikes, always have since a kid!! Had lots of different big-bore trail / ATV's over the years, & got into road bikes about 10 yrs ago, of which I've had 3 - 906, 907, & then a ST2 Ducati........ Another Ducati is on my 'hit-list' for 2014 - I'd happily go another ST - a 3 is my preference, but will see whats around @ the time......... I just pine for one all the time at the moment - Glenn being a ba$tard by putting up that pic doesn't help............... (Sold my last one, & various other toys to help with a house purchase............) I've worked in various motorcycle shops at times over the years, & Japanese road bikes don't interest me really.............they're really good, but to me they have no 'heart or soul' to them...........and I'd probably give up bikes before I ever own a Harley or a Gold-Wing............each to their own though.